Courage is a fundamental principle for anyone striving to make a significant impact in their personal and professional lives. Defined as the ability to do something that frightens one and strength in the face of pain or grief, whither physical or emotional. Courage is essential for moving beyond the status quo and driving meaningful change.
The Role of Courage in Leadership
In the business world, courage isn’t just about making bold decisions; it’s about stepping out of your comfort zone to serve at the highest level. Many women struggle with the notion that they must make everyone comfortable. However, true leadership often requires making tough decisions that may not always be comfortable for others.Serving others courageously doesn’t always mean making things comfortable. At a basic level, it might, but true, high-level service often involves discomfort. To achieve the next level of growth, you must be willing to dig deep and address the core issues.
The number one fear for humans is the fear of the unknown. It takes courage to try something new and reach that next level. For example, when I first started working with clients, I was determined to ask them questions that dug deeper into their motivations and obstacles. Some of those conversations were emotional and uncomfortable at first. However, avoiding these difficult conversations would have been a disservice to my clients. Stepping into those moments of courage allowed us to be authentic and find the answers together. This helped us move past the fears and obstacles, creating a momentum of success.
Embrace the power of courage to step beyond comfort and achieve your highest potential. True growth and leadership come from facing discomfort head-on and making decisions that align with your vision, even when it’s challenging.
Sharing Your Story
Sharing personal stories can be a powerful way to inspire and connect with others. However, there is no obligation to make your story feel more comfortable for your audience and gloss over the hard parts of the truth of your experiences.
The highest level of serving involves being authentic and courageous, even if it means making others uncomfortable. For example, when I shared my story openly of being a Domestic Violence Survivor, many women thanked me afterwards, but some felt they couldn’t share their own stories. But they did say hearing my story made them feel less alone in what happened to them. It’s important to remember that serving doesn’t always mean only talking about the "nice" things in life and pretending things are always okay. It's about being real to create unity and lay a path of communication to come together and create a better way from what we have learned along the way.
The Tug of War
Women, especially in American society, often find themselves in a tug of war between being strong and brave and the societal taught obligation to make everyone comfortable. This back-and-forth can be exhausting and unproductive. Courage allows you to step beyond this cycle and make decisions that align with your true self, regardless of others’ expectations.
Moving Beyond Comfort
To operate at a higher level, you must move past the need to make everyone comfortable. This may result in a “clearing” of people who are not aligned with your energy and goals. This process is essential for attracting those who are the right fit for you and your vision. I remember a time when I had to make a tough decision that wasn’t comfortable for everyone involved, but it ultimately led to greater alignment and success.
Magnetizing Your Energy
Operating from a state of courage helps you attract like-minded individuals who share your energy and vision. This natural vetting process ensures that you surround yourself with people who support and elevate you, rather than holding you back. When you operate at a higher level of courage, you naturally attract those who are on the same wavelength, and this can lead to deeper, more meaningful connections.
The Emotional Journey
The journey of courage is not without its challenges. As you accomplish more, you may find that things become more difficult. This is because the stakes are higher, and the impact is greater. I remember questioning why things seemed to get harder the more I achieved, but I realized that it’s because the gains are higher and the impact is more significant. Understanding this can help you stay committed to your path, even when it feels challenging.
Practical Steps to Cultivate Courage
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Start Small: Begin by taking small steps outside your comfort zone. This could be as simple as speaking up in a meeting or trying a new activity. Gradually, these small acts of courage will build your confidence.
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Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve and why it matters to you. Having a clear purpose can motivate you to push through fear and discomfort.
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Embrace Failure: Understand that failure is a part of the journey. Each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace failures as stepping stones to success.
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Seek Support: Surround yourself with supportive individuals who encourage and uplift you. Having a strong support system can provide the reassurance and motivation needed to take courageous steps.
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Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Acknowledge your efforts and progress, even if they seem small. Self-compassion can help you stay resilient in the face of challenges.
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Visualize Success: Spend time visualizing your success and the positive outcomes of your courageous actions. This mental practice can boost your confidence and reduce anxiety.
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Educate and Empower Yourself: Knowledge can reduce fear. Educate yourself about the challenges you face and the steps needed to overcome them and seek the help of a coach. Having a coach that can help you to identify those areas with tools and strategies they can share from their own experience and wisdom can move your progress much faster than trying to do it on your own.
The more empowered you are, the more confident you’ll feel.
Courage is a core value that goes beyond mere service. It is about making a significant impact and staying true to your vision, even when it means stepping out of your comfort zone. Embrace the power of courage to move beyond comfort and achieve your highest potential.
If you are interested in learning about how you can hone your own courage as a tool to gain more business and uplevel your leadership skills, click on the link below to schedule a phone call with Founder and Master Trainer Kerstin Oleta at https://kerstinoleta.as.me/phonecall
or check out our trainings available at The Business Leadership Excellence Institute. https://www.bleinstitute.com/blei-membership